Game

ABSTRACT

A puzzle game includes a cylindrical body having a plurality of generally circular raceways arranged vertically. Each raceway is formed so as to retain a plurality of balls and have at least one opening to permit a ball to be moved to an adjacent raceway. The game also includes a plurality of balls sized to fit in the raceways and be retained in the raceways. The ball can include a number of groups equal to the number of raceways, where each group has a unique marking.

Embodiments relate generally to games, and, more particularly to a puzzle game having a plurality of balls moveable contained in a plurality of raceways.

In one embodiment, a game includes a cylindrical body having a plurality of generally circular raceways arranged vertically. Each raceway can be formed so as to moveably retain a plurality of balls. Also, each raceway can have at least one opening to permit a ball to be moved to an adjacent raceway. The game can also include a plurality of balls, formed in a number of groups, where the number of groups equals the number of raceways and where each group has a unique marking. The plurality of raceways can include six raceways.

Also, a bottommost raceway and a topmost raceway in the vertical arrangement each have an opening to only one adjacent raceway. Raceways disposed between the bottommost and topmost raceways have openings to two adjacent raceways.

In another embodiment, a puzzle game includes a generally circular body having a plurality of generally circular raceways formed in a concentric arrangement. Each raceway can be formed so as to movably retain a plurality of balls. Further, each raceway having at least one opening to permit a ball to be moved to an adjacent raceway. The puzzle game can also include a plurality of balls, formed in a number of groups, each group having a unique marking. The number of groups can equal the number of raceways, for example the plurality of raceways can include six raceways.

An outermost raceway and an innermost raceway in the concentric arrangement each have an opening to only one adjacent raceway. Raceways disposed between the outermost and innermost raceways have openings to two adjacent raceways.

In either of the above-mentioned embodiments, the unique marking can be a color and/or a pattern on the outer surface of the ball.

In either of the two above mentioned embodiments, the body and/or plurality of balls can be formed from plastic, metal, glass or a combination or materials.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of an exemplary game having staked raceways in accordance with at least one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cut-away top view of the game of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view of an exemplary game having concentric raceways in accordance with at least one embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the game of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of an exemplary game in accordance with at least one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, partially cut-away front view of an exemplary game 10. The game 10 includes a cylindrical body 12 having a plurality of generally circular raceways (for example 14 and 16) arranged adjacent in an axial direction, each raceway being formed with an outer retaining member 18 so as to retain a plurality of balls (e.g., 20-30) and each raceway having at least one opening to permit a ball to be moved to an adjacent raceway. The plurality of balls can be arranged into groups (20, 22, 24, 26, 28 and 30). The number of groups can equal the number of raceways, for example six in the example shown in FIG. 1. Also, it will be appreciated that while the balls are retained in the raceways, the raceways are partially open to the exterior so that a user can view the balls in the raceways.

The balls can have a diameter (32) of about 8 mm, for example. The cylindrical body can have an outer diameter of about 72 mm and a height of about 77 mm, for example. The body can have walls with a thickness of about 1 mm. The outer retaining members can have a width of about 2 mm, or whatever width is suitable to moveably retain the balls in the raceways.

During play, the balls can be moved circumferentially in their respective raceways. A ball can also be moved between raceways. For example, a ball from group 30 can be moved to the raceway holding group 28. In this way, the balls can become shuffled. The goal of playing the puzzle game 10 is to arrange the balls so that each raceway contains balls from only one group. Alternatively, there could be other game goals such as having one ball from each group in each raceway, or the like. The groups can be identified by color or other marking. The balls could be marked with symbols, letters or numbers and a goal of the game could be to place the balls into a certain configuration in the raceway based on the symbol markings (e.g., to spell a word, complete an equation, make a phrase, make a poem, make a rhyme, make a visual pattern, or the like).

FIG. 2 is a cut-away top view of the game of FIG. 1. The game 10 can include an inner wall 32 and can have an inner diameter (34) of about 56 mm, for example. The raceways can have a width (36) of about 10 mm (assuming a ball diameter of 8 mm), for example.

FIG. 3 is a top view of an exemplary puzzle game 38 having concentric raceways. The puzzle game 38 can include a generally circular body 40 having a plurality of generally circular raceways formed in a concentric arrangement. Each raceway being formed so as to moveably retain a plurality of balls (42) and each raceway having at least one opening to permit a ball to be moved to an adjacent raceway.

During game play, balls can be moved circumferentially around each raceway, and can also be moved between adjacent raceways.

Similar to the embodiment of FIG. 1 described above, the balls can become shuffled. A goal of playing the puzzle game 38 can be to arrange the balls so that each raceway contains balls from only one group. Alternatively, there could be other game goals such as having one ball from each group in each raceway, or the like. The groups can be identified by color or other marking. The balls could be marked with symbols, letters or numbers and a goal of the game could be to place the balls into a certain configuration in the raceway based on the symbol markings (e.g., to spell a word, complete an equation, make a phrase, make a poem, make a rhyme, make a visual pattern, or the like).

FIG. 4 is a side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cylindrical puzzle game 50 similar to FIG. 1. The game 50 includes a top portion 52, a main body portion 54 and a bottom portion 56. The top portion 52 and bottom portion 56 can each rotate independently relative to the body portion 54.

By rotating the top portion 52 and/or bottom portion 56, balls can move from the horizontal top and bottom rows to the vertical columns of the body portion 54.

Also, the frame of the puzzle can be made of a magnetized material and the balls can include a plastic ball with an iron or steel core so that the balls are attracted to the magnetized metal frame. Alternatively, the balls could be magnetic and the frame could be steel or other metal that magnets are attracted to.

While some exemplary dimensions have been discussed above, it will be appreciated that these dimensions are examples, and other suitable dimensions could be used according to a contemplated embodiment.

It is, therefore, apparent that there is provided, in accordance with the various embodiments disclosed herein, a puzzle game having a plurality of balls moveable held in a plurality of raceways.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with a number of embodiments, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations would be or are apparent to those of ordinary skill in the applicable arts. Accordingly, Applicant intends to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, equivalents and variations that are within the spirit and scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A game comprising: a cylindrical body having a first generally circular raceway and a second generally circular raceway and a plurality of vertical raceways, each circular and vertical raceway being formed so as to retain a plurality of balls and each vertical raceway having a top opening and a bottom opening to permit a ball to be moved to a circular raceway; and a plurality of balls, formed in a number of groups, where the number of groups equals the number of raceways and where each group has a unique marking.
 2. The game of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical body is formed of a magnetized material and the balls are formed of a material that is attracted to the body.
 3. The game of claim 1, wherein the unique marking is a color.
 4. The game of claim 1, wherein the unique marking is a pattern on the outer surface of each ball.
 5. The game of claim 1, wherein the plurality of raceways includes six raceways.
 6. The game of claim 1, wherein the top and bottom raceways each have an opening corresponding to one of the vertical raceways.
 7. The game of claim 6, wherein the vertical raceways openings to the top and bottom adjacent raceways.
 8. The game of claim 1, wherein the plurality of balls are formed from glass.
 9. The game of claim 1, wherein the plurality of balls are formed from metal. 